Gripper device for sheet-processing roll coating machines



March 24, 1970 K. BILLHQFER GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LLHBFQL ATTORNEYS March 24, 1970 K. BILLHOFER GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KONRID Bum. BF-e1 BY NW MA A TTORNE YS March 24, 1970 K. BILLHGFER 3, 2,

GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14. 1967 R m m Y Ma F ..O H B D A a N c K BY m; MA W ATTORNE Y5 March 24, 1970 K. BILLHOFER 3,502,324

GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .FIG. 4

INVENTOR \(ommv kmuuaceg BY NW ATTORNE Y5 March 24, 1970 4 K. BILLHOFER 3,502,324

GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR onmm Qua. a6 FER- A T TORNE Y5 March 24, 1970 K. BILLHOFER 3,502,324

GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES 6 Shets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 14. 1967 FIG. 6

INVENTOR mznb R \u.. 5: 11

United States Patent 3,502,324 GRIPPER DEVICE FOR SHEET-PROCESSING ROLL COATING MACHINES Konrad Billhiifer, Nuremberg, Germany, assignor to Maschinenfabrik Richard Billhiifer, Nuremberg, Germany, a firm of Germany Filed Dec. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 690,678

Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 16, 1966,

M 72,052 Int. Cl. B65h 29/06 US. Cl. 27182 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Device for taking up and delivering the sheets on coating machines working with applicator roll and backing roll in which pick-up gripper-fingers and a co-operating seating ledge are carried by two side brackets which carry out a controlled rocking movement so that the edge of a sheet bent by the action of the grippers is brought into a plane at a tangent to the periphery of the backing roll at the discharge print there to be gripped by the grippers of the sheet removing mechanism.

The present invention relates to a device for taking up and delivering the sheets on coating machines working with applicator roll and backing roll, and comprising take-up grippers capable of being opened and closed, arranged within a shell recess of the backing roll along a surface line, and take-off grippers which are, likewise, capable of being opened and closed, arranged outside the backing roll at the take-off point and projecting between said take-up grippers.

With roll coating machines, e.g. varnishing machines, gumming machines, and the like, liquids of low viscosity, e.g. varnishes, dispersions, or the like, are being applied in relatively thick layers, and the grippers taking up the sheet to be coated must not project beyond the shell of the backing roll so that they cannot be contaminated by the coating agent. Due to this reason, the sheet edge of about 816 mm. width as gripped by the take-up grippers is bent slightly towards the interior of the roll. This causes the take-oh gripperswhich strip the coated sheet off the backing rollto grip the inwardly bent sheet edge, for which purpose they have to grip around and behind said inwardly bent sheet edge. As this takes place, it often happens that this gripping behind is not effected properly, thereby damaging, e.g. tearing the sheet edge. Up to now, the coating machines have to be operated at a, limited running speed in order to allow for the diflicult gripping of the sheet edge by the take-off grippers. So far, the maximum capacity is 3,000 sheets per hour.

Therefore, it is the object of the invention to ensure a reliable, damage-free gripping of the sheet edge by the take-off grippers on the one hand, and to render possible an increased running speed of the coating machines in order to thereby achieve a higher output at reduced cost, on the other hand.

According to the invention, this object can be achieved in an as novel as progressive manner by providing a device which aligns the sheet edge to be gripped by the grippers at the take-oflf point tangentially to the backing roll. Accordingly, there is no longer any need for the take-up grippers to grip around the sheet edge and behind it. Instead, they can open and close in the direction of their working position, gripping the sheet with its tangentially incoming sheet edge.

Preferably the take-up grippers are associated with a ledge serving for depositing thereon the sheet edge and said ledge together with the take-up grippers is controllable in the direction of motion behind the applicator roll in such a manner that its surface is being moved jointly with the gripper tooth into the tangent to the roll shell.

The supporting shaft of the grippers and the applicator strip are, preferably, seated on two brackets provided at the face of the backing roll, the movement of said brackets being controllable by means of an eccentric of the roll shaft.

For this purpose the stationary eccentric is fitted with a control ring 'which accommodates the side brackets for the seating ledge and for the gripper supporting shaft on a radial arm.

The seating ledge is pivoted in such a manner that its axis of rotation coincides with a surface line of the roll shell.

While the edge of the incoming sheet as gripped by the take-up grippers isas before-bent slightly inwards due to this construction, its angle in relation to the relevant tangent plane is, nevertheless, becoming smaller and smaller during the movement up to the take-off point such, that the sheet edge is lying in the tangent plane at the take-off point.

Consequently, as already mentioned, the take-off grippers which-in a manner which is known in itself-insert themselves toothing-fashion between the take-up grippers can conveniently grip the sheet edge without any risk of damages, e.g. tearing. As a particularly advantageous result, an increased operating speed is possible such that about 4,000 to 5,000 sheets per hour can now be processed, i.e. coated.

Further advantages and features of the invention become evident from the following description of the draw ing which illustrates an embodiment in diagrammatic representation.

In the drawing FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a varnishing machine, the position of the take-up grippers being shown at the moment when the incoming sheet is gripped,

FIG. 2 is the same representation of the machine, the position of the take-up grippers being shown at the moment of co-action of applicator roll and backing roll,

FIG, 3 is the same representation of the machine, the take-up grippers being shown in the take-off position, and the take-off grippers becoming effective,

FIG. 4 is a partial section taken along A, B, C, D, E, F of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a partly exploded perspective view of the device, and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the drive of the rolls and of the sprocket.

The applicator roll 16 coacts with the backing roll 3 in a manner which is known in itself. The sheet 13 is coated while passing between these rolls.

The sheet 13 coming in on the guide plate 14 is gripped at its front edge by the take-up grippers 10, 31 operating with gripper fingers 10 which are capable of being opened and closed. This leading edge of the sheet 13 is slightly bent into the interior of the roll because the gripper device is introduced into the interior of the backing roll, and because it must not project beyond its shell.

Control, i.e. opening and closing of the take-up grippers 10, is effected via the control roller 12 rolling down on cam 11.

The seating ledge 6 is accompanied to these take-up grippers 10, said seating ledge 6 being pivoted, about the axis of rotation 4 which coincides with a surface line of the backing roll 3.

The shaft 1 carrying the gripper fingers 10, and the seating ledge 6 are arranged on face brackets 2. These brackets 2 execute a movement, while the backing roll executes its normal rotary motion, i.e. a movement as ndicated in the drawing by FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. This movement of the side brackets 2 with the shaft 1 of :he take-up grippers and with the seating ledge 6 :auses the angle indicated as a in FIG. 1 to decrease gradually, until it has become zero in the take-off posi- ;ion (FIG. 3), resulting in that the sheet edge falls into :he tangent which can be put on the backing roll 3 in the :ake-oif position.

The movement of parts 2, and therefore 1 and 6 is :ontrolled by an eccentric 8, which is stationarily arranged on the shaft 7 of the backing roll 3. A control ring [7 rolls down on the eccentric 8 and is provided with the radial supporting arm 9 in which the shaft 1 is supported and which, accordingly, also bears the brackets 2. The :runnion 4, by means of which the seating ledge 6 can 3e rotated, is supported in the bracket 2, as already men- :ioned, in such a manner that its aXis of rotation coincides with a surface line of the backing roll 3.

As soon as the take-up grippers have reached the takeoff position with the sheet edge gripped by them (see FIG. 3), the take-off grippers 15, 25 start to actuate; these are, likewise, fitted with gripper fingers capable of being opened and closed andas can be noted on the sectional drawing of FIG. 4--are staggered opposite the takeup grippers 10. They grip the leading edge of sheet 13, which is tangentially aligned in the direction of its working position, and pull off the coated sheet.

Upon the further rotary motion, the parts 17, 9, 1, 2 and 6 are brought back into the take-up position as per FIG. 1.

The take-off gripper-fingers 15 are secured on a shaft 18 which is pivoted on both sides in a block 19. These blocks 19 are each fastened to a chain 20 running via sprocket-wheels 23 supported on frame 21 by means of the shaft 22. The blocks 19 are, simultaneously, serving to secure in position another shaft 24 on which seating rings 25 for the take-off grippers 15 are attached.

Opening movement of the take-off gripper-fingers 15 is effected similar to the motion of the take-up gripper-fingers 10. For this purpose, an arm 26 is connected with the shaft 18, said arm carrying a roller 27 on its bottom end, which runs up on a cam 28 for rocking the take-off gripper-fingers 15. Resetting of the take-off gripper-fingers 15 is effected by means of the spring 29, 'whereas resetting of the take-up gripper-fingers 10 is effected via spring 30.

In order to ensure safe gripping of the leading edge of sheet 13 by the take-up gripper-fingers 10 and by the take-off gripper-fingers 15, strips 31 made of a material having a high coefficient of friction are provided on the seating ledge 6 in way of the take-up gripper-fingers 10. In like manner, the seating rings 25 are each provided with one block 32. Rubber, for instance, could be used as material for the strips 31 and the block 32.

The drive of the device is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. The motor 33 drives a gearwheel 35 via a chain 34, said gearwheel 35 mating with a gearwheel 36, which is keyed to the shaft 7 for the backing roll 3. This gearwheel 36 drives another gearwheel 37 supported on frame 21, said gearwheel 37 coacting via a geanwheel 38 with the gearwheel 40 which is secured on shaft 39 of the applicator roll 16. At the same time, the gearwheel 37 is connected-via a gearwheel 41-with a gearwheel 42, which is keyed to shaft 22 for the sprocket-wheels 23. In this manner, the drive of the applicator roll 16, of the backing roll 3, and of the sprockets 23 is effected by one single motor 33, so that synchronism of the parts is constantly ensured.

It is claimed:

1. A device for successively taking up sheets, guiding each taken-up sheet between an applicator roll and a backing roll of a coating machine. and taking off each coated sheet after passing the rolls for delivery of the taken off sheets to a point of utilization, said device comprising in combination:

a rotary applicator roll;

a rotary backing roll coacting with said applicator roll for conveying sheets between said rolls and coating the same while passing between the rolls, said backing roll having a lengthwise recess inits peripheral wall; i

a take-up assembly including pivotally mounted grippers for gripping the leading edge of each sheet fed to said assembly anda pivotally mounted lengthwise shelf, said grippers and said shelf guiding the leading edge of each sheet from a position retractedbelow the peripheral outline of the backing roll into a position substantially tangential therewith;v

at least one take-01f assembly including grippers for gripping the leading edge of each sheet in the substantially tangential position thereof;

conveyor means moving said take-off assembly into a coacting relationship with the backing roll at a peripheral area thereof posterior of said applicator roll, the rates of movement of the conveyor means and the rolls being so correlated that the leading edge of each sheet reaches said peripheral area when the take-off assembly is in coacting relationship therewith;

first control means controlling the pivotal positions of the grippers and the ledge of the take-up assembly for guiding the leading edge of each gripped sheet from a retracted position within said recess when and while said edge passes between the rolls into a position in which the leading edge is substantially tangential with the peripheral wall of the backing roll;

second control means coacting with the take-off grippers for gripping the leading edge of sheets coming within reach of said grippers in substantially tangential position; and

cycling means actuating said first and second control means to operate the grippers and the ledge sequentially and in timed relationship as aforesaid.

2. A device for successively taking up sheets, guiding each taken-up sheet between an applicator roll and a backing roll of a coating machine and taking off each coated sheet after passing the rolls for delivery of the taken-off sheets to a point of utilization, said device comprising in combination:

a rotary applicator roll;

a rotary backing roll peripherally coacting with said applicator roll for conveying sheets between said rolls and coating the same while passing between the rolls, said backing roll having a lengthwise recess in its peripheral wall;

a take-up assembly including grippers for gripping the leading edge of each sheet fed to said assembly and a lengthwise shelf for guiding the leading edge of each incoming sheet, said grippers and said shelf being mounted within said recess pivotal about an axis lengthwise of the backing roll between a position in which the gripped sheet edge is retracted below the peripheral outline of the backing roll and a position in which the gripped sheet edge is substantially tangential therewith;

at least one take-01f assembly including grippers for gripping the leading edge of each sheet in the substantially tangential position thereof;

conveyor means moving said take-off assembly into a coacting relationship with the backing roll at a peripheral area thereof posterior of said applicator roll, the rates of movement of the conveyor means and the rolls being so correlated that the leading edge of each sheet reaches said peripheral area when the take-off assembly is in coacting relationship therewith; I

first control means coacting with the grippers and the ledge of the take-up assembly for controlling the grippers of said assembly to grip the leading edge of each sheet when the same is within reach of said grippers and for also controlling the pivotal positions of said grippers and said ledge to guide the leading edge of each gripped sheet from a downwardly slanted position when said edge passes between the rolls into a position in which the leading edge is substantially tangential with the peripheral wall of the backing roll when said leading edge is within reach of the grippers of the take-off assembly and to release the sheets in said substantially tangential position;

second control means coacting with the take-off grippers for gripping the leading edge of sheets in said substantially tangential position; and

cycling means actuating said first and second control means to operate the grippers and the ledge sequentially and in timed relationship as aforesaid.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein a common drive is operatively coupled with said rolls and said conveyor means for driving said rolls and means.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said first and second control means each comprise stationary cam members and cam followers riding thereon, said cam followers controlling the pivotal positions of the take-up grippers and take-off grippers respectively and also of the ledge.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said ledge is pivotal about an axis which is in substantial alignment with the peripheral wall of said backing roll.

6. The device according to claim 2 wherein said backing roll and said conveyor means are each mounted on a rotary shaft, each of said shafts being journalled in side brackets, and wherein the cam follower for controlling the pivotal position of the take-up grippers is mounted on a first shaft and the cam follower for controlling the pivotal position of the take-off grippers on a second shaft, and the ledge is mounted at least at one end on a pivotal bracket for movement in unison therewith, said bracket mounting the cam follower for controlling the pivotal position of the ledge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,767,653 10/1956 Babicz 101-409 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,144 2/ 1918 Great Britain.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 118503 

